With the Aviva Premiership Rugby Awards due to be announced on May 8, the trio join the likes of Chris Robshaw, who has been nominated for player of the year, and Owen Farrell, who is up for discovery of the season, in hoping to scoop some silverware.

The award recognises statistically the best performances throughout the 2011-12 season, based on the Opta Index.

While it looks likely that none of the three will be in with a shout of lifting the Premiership title, the trio have been in sensational form this season. Their contribution has helped their sides edge the odd narrow match and Premiership Rugby's rugby director Phil Winstanley has highlighted this.

"The average winning margin in Aviva Premiership Rugby matches is currently 9.54 points, smaller than any other league in the world, so players like these three who are contributing statistically the most effective performance are becoming more and more valuable," Winstanley said. "Having watched each of them a number of times through the season I can appreciate the impact they have had."